Gay couple humiliated by security guard in Sainsbury's demand better staff training

'I cannot fathom the idea that my love for another human being upsets someone else so much,' says 25-year-old Josh Bradwell

Thomas Rees, left, and Josh Bradwell, right, have said they do not wish to demonise the security guard who asked to speak to them but want staff training improved (Josh Bradwell/Thomas Rees)

A same-sex couple who held hands in a Sainsbury's have expressed their shock at a security guard taking them aside because a customer complained they were "touching inappropriately".

Thomas Rees and Josh Bradwell were shopping for dinner in Hackney when a security guard asked to speak to them outside so as "not to embarass them" about a woman who had allegedly complained they were "touching inappropriately".

The pair said the purpose of the conversation was "completely unclear" and they left enraged and upset - after which Mr Rees tweeted a complaint to Sainsbury's which rapidly went viral.

Mr Bradwell said he and his boyfriend wished to know how the supermarket giant - already embarassed by a similar incident at a Brighton store - would train its staff better on discrimination against LGBT people.

"I cannot fathom the idea that my love for another human being upsets someone else so much, but it did," the 25-year-old told The Independent.

"We were going to make a roast chicken, get some potatoes - we were probably in there for four minutes, holding hands, nothing more than that.

"Obviously this didn't please someone. As we paid for our things, I felt that a security guard was hovering closer than usual.

"He beckoned us over and asked to speak to us outside - he said so it wouldn't be as embarassing, but obviously that was even more embarassing.

"He said that a woman had complained we were touching inappropriately."

The pair sent a tweet to Sainsbury's, which has been liked and re-tweeted hundreds of times (Josh Bradwell/Thomas Rees)

Neither Mr Rees nor Mr Bradwell saw the woman mentioned by the security guard, but the guard said he believed in "live and let live" while also repeatedly mentioning the complaint about "inappropriate touching".

"The end goal was completely unclear. We couldn't quite fathom what the point of him telling us was," said Mr Bradwell, who works for a social media agency.

"We were stunned by the entire thing."

Mr Rees, a 32-year-old account manager, returned home to tweet a message to Sainsbury's about the incident. The message has been liked and re-tweeted hundreds of times.

The communications team at Sainsbury's requested to know more about the story and has since said it is investigating the incident.

A spokesperson for Sainsbury's said security guard's behaviour was "not defensible" and a £10 token sent to the pair was meant not to offend but as a "token gesture" following their anger.

It is not the first time the supermarket chain has been forced to apologise for the behaviour of its staff in relation to LGBT customers.

Members of the public held a "kissing protest" at a Sainsbury's in Brighton after a lesbian couple were threatened with expulsion by another security guard for briefly kissing following a customer complaint in 2014.

All Sainsbury's staff were told in training to "treat everyone as equals", a spokesperson told The Independent in relation to the Hackney incident.

“We sincerely apologise to Thomas and Josh," the store said in a press statement.

"We are an inclusive retailer and employer and do not tolerate discrimination in our stores. We will take appropriate action once we’ve concluded our investigation with our security contractor.”

Homophobia and the threat to LGBT rights around the world have been in the spotlight more recently following the massacre of 49 people and injury of 53 in a gay nightclub in Orlando, in the largest mass shooting in US history.